December 2015

The Leaf Space executive team. Photo: Andrea Scaringello [Via Satellite 12-16-2015] Leaf Space, an Italian startup company, is building a network of private ground stations tailored for the growing small satellite market. The company received a grant from the European Commission’s Horizon’s 2020 fund, and is currently building the first ground station in the network,…

The PSLV-C29 heat shield closed with six satellites integrated to the launch vehicle. Photo: ISRO [Via Satellite 12-16-2015] TeLEOS 1, the first Singapore-produced commercial satellite, launched Dec. 16 aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) into a 550 km Near Equatorial Orbit (NEqO). Produced by Singapore Technologies Electronics…

A Kymeta connected car graphic. Photo: Kymeta [Via Satellite 12-16-2015] Kymeta and Intelsat have successfully completed initial testing of the mobility performance of Kymeta’s flat-panel antennas on Intelsat’s satellite network for both maritime and automotive applications. The software-based antennas are designed to simplify the access to satellites by removing the need for mechanical components, using…

Ward nurse Meredith Herring of the U.S. plays with a patient on Deck 7. Photo: Katie Keegan [Via Satellite 12-16-2015] EMC has signed an agreement with Mercy Ships, a charity organization that operates a fleet of hospital ships around the world, to expand and upgrade its satellite communication systems and services. The telecoms company will…

Telstar 12V, Telesat’s satellite with high throughput spot beams. Photo: Telesat. [Via Satellite 12-16-2015] Telesat’s recently launched Telstar 12 Vantage satellite has initiated full commercial operations at its 15 degrees west orbital location. The satellite entered orbit three weeks ago via a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) H2A rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan,…

An H2A rocket launching from Japan’s Tanegashima Space Center. Photo: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries [Via Satellite 12-15-2015] Japan is enthusiastic that changes being implemented through its most recent “Basic Plan on Space Policy” are showing the first fruits of revitalizing and stabilizing the country’s space industry. Speaking Dec. 10 at a Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation…

The Sentinel 1B radar antenna. Photo: Airbus Defence and Space [Via Satellite 12-15-2015] Thales Alenia Space has signed a 143 million euro ($156.5 million) contract with Airbus Defence and Space to provide two additional radar instruments for Sentinel satellites 1C and 1D. The two satellites will carry the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Antenna Subsystem (SAS),…

A RigNet VSAT. Photo: RigNet [Via Satellite 12-15-2015] RigNet has announced a reduction of 21 personnel during the company’s fourth quarter. The company, which provides digital technology solutions to the oil and gas industry, cited the need to curtail costs in line with lower activity levels in the upstream energy market. “As RigNet has seen…

Photo: SolarKiosk [Via Satellite 12-15-2015] SES subsidiary SES Techcom Services and SolarKiosk, an energy and business gateway provider focused on underserved communities worldwide, have entered into a two-year partnership to deliver high-quality connectivity to communities worldwide. Under the agreement, SolarKiosk will use satellite connectivity to provide Internet access to underserved areas, initially in Africa. This…

Cattle-Watch’s Gilat Satcom-enabled cattle tracker. Photo: Gilat Satcom [Via Satellite 12-15-2015] Gilat Satcom is working with Cattle-Watch, a new location, behavior monitoring and tracking service for the cattle industry, to supply a satellite solution with connectivity over the Iridium network. Cattle-Watch provides herd owners with real-time reports about the location, walking, grazing and resting time, water consumption, reproductive condition and…